Preview: Bateman to add new faces as FC head to Hayes

James Heneghan

Aylesbury FC manager Steve Bateman says he’s keen to bring in one or two new faces to give his side a “shot in the arm” ahead of the final two months of the season.

The Moles have dropped to fourth in Division One Central of the Southern League following a recent dip in form with just one win from their last four games and with former West Ham United striker Terry Dixon heading back to Dunstable Town, Bateman is hoping to bring in some new faces for the final 11 games of the season.

He said: “I’m going to look to freshen things up a bit. We’ve transferred Terry Dixon back to Dunstable. He’s not really got going for us and the form of Brian Haule has made it very difficult to leave him out, so it’s best for him because he’s a good player.

“It weakens the group but I’ll be addressing that as best as I can. I’m looking at adding one or two that’ll give us a shot in the arm as we go into the final bit of the season.

“The transfer deadline is at the end of the month and we’ll probably do a little bit of business before then, just to give ourselves every chance in the final month.”

FC are back in action tonight, Tuesday, when they make the trip to lowly AFC Hayes, who seem destined for relegation with 12 points separating them from safety.

Bateman added: “I’m not expecting an easy game. Their league position is not where they’d want to be but they’ve changed 50 or 60 per cent of their side in the last two weeks and they’re fighting for their lives to try and get out of that bottom two and give themselves a chance of staying up. At this time of year those games are never easy.”